Elijah's Valley

Introduction

We all have mountaintop experiences in our faith. Moments where we’re excited, motivated, inspired to do more for God. We are successful in doing good and feel like we are making huge strides for the Lord. But those moments are followed up by long, dark valleys (Psalm 23, valley of the shadow of death). As we trudge through life we experience these low points. Sometimes our elated experiences are snuffed out by immediate or gradual depression.

Depression is a real problem in America. It has grown exponentially over the last 3 years, ever since COVID. (look up depression statistics). It might seem ridiculous and easy to overcome, “Just get over it. Buck up and do what you gotta do.” When you’re experiencing the roadblock of depression it makes daily tasks harder. It affects the mind negatively to where fear of everything going wrong becomes crippling, the outlook on life becomes overwhelmingly negative, the desire to get out of bed, get dressed, and leave the house becomes such a big issue because of the anxiety that people can end up staying in bed all day. Then, when they reflect on the day and realize they didn’t get anything done they are overcome with shame, guilt, and their self-esteem plummets.

Multiple Bible characters had Mountain top experiences followed by the valley: Moses received the Law and went back down to find the Israelites worshiping a golden calf, Jesus with Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration go back down to find the crowds arguing with the other disciples. Elijah experienced a massive victory on Mt. Carmel against the 450 prophets of Baal and now plummets into the lowest valley of his life.

I.

-vs. 7: eat, for the journey is too great for you (research). God acknowledges that the journey is too great for him alone. We need to understand the same and make a change

-vs. 8: Research Horeb, the mountain of God.

-vs. 10: part of depression is feeling fear and loneliness which develops a pessimistic outlook. Viewing things negatively often skews facts, “I alone am left” (18:22). There are 7,000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal (vs. 18).

-vs. 11-13: God showed Himself in a gentle breeze, not a loud and boisterous display. We often wait to see God’s mighty act that is supposed to signal us that everything will be alright. God often shows Himself in the gentle breeze of life. Not in obvious, unmistakable ways, but in soft ways that we usually miss: a text message from a friend, a card in the mail, that chance meeting at the grocery store, that verse of Scripture you heard on the radio, etc. He often uses common, everyday things to bring healing and show His goodness. Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” We just conjure up our own ideas of how God should show Himself, so we miss when He actually does.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

The best place to start looking for God’s guidance is through His Word. He has revealed Himself, His ways, and His will for mankind on the pages of Scripture. Take the time to read a few Psalms, maybe a passage or two from the gospels, or a chapter or two from one of the epistles, etc. Search God through His Word and you’ll be amazed how a certain passage hits home and accurately addresses what you’re dealing with in that moment.

-vs. 19-21: tossing the mantle is the same as Jesus saying to Peter, James, John, and the rest “follow me.” It was understood that the mantle (research specifics about mantle and connect it with God’s glory in vs. 13 and Moses’ veil) was a beckoning for Elisha to be an understudy and he left his oxen immediately.

-Part of God’s solution for depression was to give Elijah: 1) a task (vs. 15-17), 2) good news (vs. 18), 3) a companion (vs. 21)